How to create a flower refrigerator display that works for store sales

Dmitry Bizyukov Founder of the chain of flower salons "Foliage"

Dmitry Bizyukov

Founder of the chain of flower salons "Foliage"
The design of the window display and the arrangement of bouquets on it directly affects the sales of the street point. This is the first detail that a client pays attention to when he enters a flower shop. With the right approach, the refrigeration chamber can be made the main competitive advantage of the store.

We will talk with the owner of the Listva chain of stores, Dmitry Bizyukov, on how to improve a refrigerated display case.

Replace a small refrigerator with a walk-in cooler

The refrigerator itself can be of any size. As a rule, small structures up to two meters high and wide are installed. Such a refrigerator can be ordered ready-made from a company that sells plastic windows.

The main problem of a two-meter refrigerator is that it is difficult to make an attractive display case out of it. There is not enough free space: expensive bouquets are mixed together with cheap or cut flowers, which are sold individually. If you put freshly delivered roses in packaging for sealing, the display case will completely lose its presentation.

Therefore, in the Listva chain of stores we use open display cases of up to 20 m², where anyone can enter. This distinguishes us from traditional stores, where at the entrance to the refrigerator there is a sign: “Do not go inside.” Our principle inspires trust among customers: they see that we are not hiding anything and are not trying to sell a weak product. Anyone can come inside and choose their own flower.

Anyone can enter the flower display and choose a bouquet.

Other ways to update the appearance of your refrigerator

If a DIYer knows how to paint, you can update your refrigerator using acrylic pigments without resorting to full painting. The door and walls of the refrigeration unit can be painted with various patterns - acrylic is perfect for this. However, it should be understood that the pattern must be protected by covering the surface with varnish. We offer you to see what old refrigerators updated with your own hands look like using photographic examples.

If the home craftsman does not have artistic skills, you can use a stencil that you make yourself or order from art workshops. In this case, to apply paint you can use either a roller with a brush (or a sponge as an option) or the same aerosol can. A good option would be stickers with different designs.

Hide refrigeration equipment above the ceiling

Refrigeration equipment looks bulky and spoils the appearance. It feels like you are inside a warehouse rather than a premium store. Therefore, it is advisable to disguise all technical details of the refrigerator from customers.

Installation of a suspended ceiling. Between the suspended and regular ceiling there is space under which you can hide all the technical parts of the refrigerator

An air cooler with a fan can be covered with a suspended ceiling - grilyato. This is a cellular ceiling with holes of 5-10 cm; it does not prevent the passage of cold air, but hides the technical details of the store.

Artistic decor

It is not necessary to involve a skilled artist to perform original surface decoration. It is enough to purchase special devices that will help turn a dull, boring refrigerator into a real work of art.

Decoupage technique

A very affordable and easy method to transform a refrigeration unit by gluing the image you like to the door or side wall of the unit and then securing the result with varnish. Any available items can serve as blanks:

• napkins;
• newspapers;
• postcards;
• photos;
• printed pictures found on the Internet;
• ready-made templates for decoupage sold in stores.

Healthy! The thickness of the workpiece affects the final result: the thinner the material used, the more accurate the design looks.

Refrigerator decor using decoupage technique

DIY refrigerator decoupage idea

The procedure is as follows:

1. Prepare the surface for pasting - wash and dry thoroughly; if there is rust or other defects, you can also paint it.
2. Cut out the selected image (if you are using napkins, you need to get rid of the plain layers and leave only the colored ones).
3. First, you should decide on the exact locations of the drawings; if you are creating a composition, it is better to make markings.
4. Attaching pictures is carried out in two ways: apply glue to the surface, then apply and press the fragment, or apply the adhesive on top of the picture, simultaneously smoothing it with a brush from the center to the edges.
5. You need to wait for the product to dry completely, and then perform artistic design - paint over the background, paint on shadows, highlights to make the image look realistic.
6. The finished composition should be secured with varnish, applying it in 2-3 layers, waiting for each to dry completely.

The decor created in this way is resistant to mechanical stress and wet cleaning.

Painting with paints

In this way, it is possible to create entire storylines and thematic paintings. An excellent option for those who are good with a brush. On the other hand, you can purchase ready-made templates with which you can create a masterpiece, even without possessing the appropriate skills. It will be enough to fix the stencil in the right place and fill the fragment with the desired color. You can also use anti-stencils: they are glued in a certain area, the rest of the surface is painted over, and after drying they are removed.

For application, use both acrylic paints with a brush and aerosol cans. The result is best secured with varnish for durability and resistance.

Interesting! Airbrushes, called air brushes, allow you to create spectacular, realistic paintings. For such a transformation it is necessary to have artistic talents, otherwise the idea will turn out to be a failure.

Hand painted with paints

Hand painted refrigerator

Decor with self-adhesive film

One of the most budget-friendly and easiest ways to update the appearance of a refrigerator, which does not require any creative talent from the performer. You can easily buy a suitable color in a store. The manipulation is performed in three elementary steps:

1. Clean and degrease the surface of the equipment, remove the handles.
2. Apply the film, at the same time leveling it with a flat object, getting rid of folds and bubbles.
3. Fold the edges of the fabric, trim off the excess and put the handles in place.

Despite all the advantages, this method has disadvantages, which are the rapid abrasion of the pattern and the appearance of irregularities when applied to a deformed and rounded plane.

Decor with self-adhesive film

Decoration option with self-adhesive film

Magnetic panels with photo printing

They differ from the previous version in that they allow you to turn the unit into a realistic decorative item, for example, a telephone booth or a bottle of your favorite drink. In addition, such material makes it possible to apply your favorite photograph or an image of your own authorship.

Magnetic panels with photo printing have a number of advantages:

• not only provide visual appeal and realism, but also protect equipment from scratches and dirt;
• gluing such a fabric does not cause difficulties - the process is carried out manually or using a hair dryer;
• They fit even on uneven and rounded surfaces and on corners.

Healthy! If you want to remove the panel, this can be done without much difficulty; no marks remain on the product. In essence, this is a regular refrigerator magnet, only larger.

Photo panels are vinyl sheets 0.5 mm thick with a magnet on one side and a pattern on the other. The parameters are immediately matched to the dimensions of the equipment and are suitable for gluing to the door and side walls. The surface must first be degreased; the entire application process is carried out similarly to pasting with self-adhesive.

Decorating a refrigerator with film with photo printing

Film with photo printing

Magnets

Small decorative items that are often found on the refrigeration equipment of many residents. With their help, it is also possible to transform the appearance of the device and make it original. You can attach magnets of only a certain theme in a certain sequence, or randomly hang any units you like. It all depends on your own taste preferences and imagination.

Use stepped shelving

If you do not maintain different levels in the refrigerator, then with a large assortment, the flowers will block each other. For this reason, we use stepped racks in the refrigerator, which can be set at different heights and removed when not needed. Thanks to this, the refrigerator space is always optimally used.

Thanks to stepped shelving, the buyer immediately sees the entire assortment of the store

We order metal racks - it’s more reliable, and then we put wooden shelves on them, treated with antifungal and moisture-repellent agents. Under the iron base we make small rubberized feet that protect the tiles on the floor from traces of rust.

The cost of professional painting: a brief overview of prices

On average, the cost of professional painting varies slightly across Russian regions. As of May 2022, prices were fixed at the following levels:

• painting a small refrigerator – 5,000 rubles;
• medium – 7,000 rubles;
• large – 9,000 rub.

Painting (airbrushing) the door of a refrigeration unit will cost approximately 8,000 rubles. High-quality stickers can be purchased at prices ranging from 800 to 1,500 rubles. Now, knowing the approximate prices, the home craftsman should think about how much cheaper it will be to do this work with his own hands.

Professional airbrush on the door costs about 8,000 rubles.

Instead of a lamp, install LED lamps

To illuminate flowers in the refrigerator, it is better to use spotlights with LED lamps. Unlike conventional lamps, they last a very long time - during the entire operation of the refrigerator, they may never have to be changed.

Ceiling spotlight

The main advantage of LEDs is that they illuminate only what we need. You can experiment with light: turn off some of the lamps or change the direction of the light. For example, lights can be turned off above shelves where goods have already been sold out, and only the compositions we need can be illuminated. It is not only economical, but also beautiful.

If you install lights in the refrigerator with a dimmer - a device that regulates the power of electricity, you can control the brightness of the light bulbs, for example, make them dimmer after the store closes.

First of all, we develop a showcase design, and only then we look for suitable equipment

Installation of a showcase is a full-fledged construction that begins with a project. First of all, we select materials for the future showcase, calculate the thickness of each wall, floor and ceiling. Only after this we select refrigeration equipment.

This is important because each room retains cold differently. To keep the cold in a room with thin walls without insulation, you will need more powerful equipment. If you first buy a used refrigeration unit and then build the premises, there is a risk that the equipment will not be suitable for these conditions and goods.

The design and overall cost of the refrigeration chamber depends on the task that the owner sets for himself, the budget, and the size of the room. As a rule, a simple display case with used refrigeration equipment costs about 200,000 rubles. Expensive open display cases can cost more than a million rubles.

Install automatic doors

If you are going to make a display case that is open to everyone, then install an automatic sliding door that opens when you press a button. This way, you won’t end up with the door accidentally left open and warm air entering the chamber. This negatively affects the flowers and puts extra strain on the equipment.

With a sliding door, it will be more convenient for florists to leave the refrigerator with an armful of flowers or carry buckets of water for replacement. For buyers this will be an additional pleasant detail.

MAGNETIC NOTE BOARD

A magnetic board will make your kitchen look a little like Italian restaurants. Why not? A chalkboard is a great way to decorate your refrigerator. It costs only 400-800 rubles. Also, anyone can make such a board on their own. All you need is magnetic paint and an MDF sheet. The board is cut directly from MDF sheet.

Then you have to process the edges and apply several layers of magnetic paint to the product. All you have to do is wait until the board dries and you can use it! You can also purchase a finished product. A magnetic board can be a marker board or a slate board (for drawing with chalk).

The slate board is distinguished by a black canvas. Drawings made with chalk are erased with a damp sponge. The stand for sponges and crayons is also attached to the refrigerator with a magnet.

A marker board is a more modern option. It comes with a special sponge and markers.

A new product that stores offer is a multi-colored marker board. It will make any refrigerator bright and attractive.

Consider how to drain condensate

In one of the stores, we made a mistake in the design and brought the condensate pipe directly inside the refrigerator. Now florists have to collect the moisture that forms in the refrigerator in a bucket.

This is an additional headache for employees: every day they must remember to drain the condensate. If this is not done, water may spill onto the floor and this will have a detrimental effect on the flowers. Plus, it spoils the aesthetics of the store: no one wants to look at a pipe with flowing water.

To avoid these problems, consider a condensate drain in advance. It is advisable to place the refrigerator next to the room where the sewage system is located, for example, near the toilet or technical room. If the sewerage system is located far away, you will have to lay a separate pipe to remove moisture and install an additional compressor. In any case, it will be better than if the water collects inside the refrigerator.

DIY decoupage

The decoration technique is based on attaching an ornament, painting or drawing to the refrigerator and coating the resulting composition with varnish in order to preserve it and give a special visual effect.

Do it yourself decoupage of the refrigerator using the following materials:

• multi-layer napkin, stencils with drawings or patterns;
• decoupage glue;
• acrylic paints (used to create a background and draw the boundaries of the picture);
• matte or glossy varnish;
• brushes of different sizes;
• scissors;
• sponge or rag.

These items can be easily purchased at hardware stores or handicraft stores.

Attention! Restoring a refrigerator using this method requires certain skills, so it is initially recommended to master the technique on other objects with a similar surface.

The pattern is selected in accordance with the interior style; its shades must be combined with the overall color scheme of the kitchen. This will allow the unit to look harmonious in the room. If the necessary decorative print is not available, it can be created independently in a graphic editor. It is recommended to print stencils only on a laser printer. When exposed to moisture, inkjet printer ink will spread over the surface of the unit, forming ugly stains.

Refrigerator decor using the applique method is carried out mainly in the following styles:

• Provence;
• retro (vintage);
• shabby chic.

Provence is a variety of French style. It got its name in honor of the southern province due to the presence of warm colors that convey the atmosphere of rural life in the region. Design in the Provence style does not involve the use of the shine of expensive metals; it is imbued with comfort and romance. Preference in colors is given to beige, white, light blue and green shades. The drawings usually depict vases with flowers, fruits, bottles of wine on windows overlooking the sea, vineyards.

Retro style involves decorating the refrigerator with appliqués that create the effect of being in past centuries. The color scheme can be pastel (romantic) or combine dark and beige tones (from brown to beige). Applications may include drawings of vintage cars, portraits of celebrities and landscapes with buildings of yesteryear.

Shabby chic style is considered gentle, romantic and cozy. Translated, its name means shabby chic, so it suggests a combination of slight carelessness with sweet and bohemian luxury. The distressed effect is created using acrylic paint, and then drawings of exquisite vases with beautiful flowers, usually light pink or beige, are glued on. Additionally, there may be images of birds and butterflies.

Master class on decorating a refrigerator using decoupage method:

• the surface is treated with dishwashing detergent or an alcohol solution;
• using paint to create the desired background;
• remove the backing from the drawing;
• cut out the required number of patterns or pictures with scissors;
• coat the inside of the selected element with glue and apply it to the desired place, carefully smoothing out the folds with a brush;
• the remaining glue is removed with a damp cloth, usually starting with large parts of the composition, for convenience, marking the surface with a pencil;
• the contours are drawn with paint, if necessary, unnecessary elements are painted over or the desired patterns are completed;
• apply at least 2 layers of varnish to the application, which will increase its moisture resistance.

When creating a print yourself on plain paper, it is first coated with several layers of acrylic varnish. After drying, the picture is left in water for some time so that the paper base comes off. Then the print is laid out face down on a towel and carefully separated. There should be a thin acrylic film with a pattern left, which is glued to the refrigerator.

Use only glass vases

When a buyer enters a salon and sees white plastic flowerpots or galvanized buckets, he immediately gets the impression of a second-class salon. It is not clear what kind of water the flowers are in - maybe it hasn’t been changed for several days.

When flowers are in plastic buckets, it is not clear to customers when the water was last changed here

We use only glass vases. From them, the client immediately sees that the water is perfectly clean and the flowers are being taken care of. The disadvantages of vases are that they are expensive, they need to be washed constantly, they often break, and florists get cut by splinters. But all this does not matter for those who want to build long-term relationships with the client.

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Camera frame

We took a 5 by 5 cm timber for the construction of the refrigeration chamber and began to assemble the following frame from it:

We make the dimensions between sections meter by meter, so that it is convenient to sheath with foam plastic, since this is exactly the size that is sold.

The height of our chamber is 240 cm when clean or 250 taking into account the size of the timber. Therefore, it was not possible to carefully place the finished pieces of insulation everywhere; we had to cut them. This height was not chosen by chance, at 240 cm we place 3 shelves of 80 cm each, they just fit all keg models in height.

Aerosol paints

Acrylic spray paint for PVC is especially suitable for painting plastic products. The container protects the paint from air penetration and the formation of a film on the surface. On the labels of such paints you can find the words: “Plastic” or “Multi-Surface”.

Advantages

• high level of adhesion;
• ideal for painting small parts and hard-to-reach places;
• does not require additional tools;
• creates an even and smooth coating;
• dries quickly;
• economical to use.

Flaws

• If cleaning is not done in a timely manner, the nozzle may dry out;
• spray painting requires certain skills.